Materials dispensing apparatus



April 1966 1.. HAGGITT 3,245,586

MATERIALS DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4, 1965 INVENTOR. Les/i6 L Haggiff 5ml w IQGEN United States Patent 3,245,586 MATERIALS DISPENSING APPARATUS Leslie L. Haggitt, Midland, Mich., assignor to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 321,095 3 Claims. (Cl. 222--88) This invention relates to improved apparatus for dispensing fluid materials, and particularly to apparatus for dispensing fumigants simultaneously from more than one container.

Furnigants, such as methyl bromide, for example, are commonly sold in metal cans containing one pound of the fumigant composition. However, many fumigation jobs require the use of more than one can of fumigant material, necessitating several can opening operations when conventional single can dispensing devices are used.

Further, though a need for a multiple can fumigant dispensing device exists, the device should be economical to construct, substantially foolproof in operation, and compact in size so that it may be conveniently moved from one job to another.

Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to provide an improved device for dispensing fumigant from two or more cans of fumigant material.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved, simple to assemble and operate, device for dispensing fumigant from two or more cans of fumigant material.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved, economical device for dispensing fumigant from two or more cans of fumigant material.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a frame having a pair of longitudinally extending members. A pair of cross-member elements, the cross-member elements extending between corresponding spaced apart locations on said longitudinal members, are rigidly coupled to the longitudinal members. A multiple can supporting rack is disposed between said cross-member elements and is secured to each of said longitudinal members intermediate of said cross-member elements. A can piercing member having a plurality of individual piercing elements is disposed between the can supporting element and one of said cross-member elements and is coupled to said frame. The piercing elements have a sharp end which faces generally towards the can supporting rack.

Pressure applying means, slidably coupled to each of said longitudinally extending members, is disposed between said can supporting element and the other of said cross-member elements. Cans are placed on the can supporting element with an end contacting the can piercing elements. The pressure applying means exerts pressure on the other (capped) end of the cans and forces the can to move so that the piercing elements pierce the bottom of each can while pressure continues to be exerted on the cans to prevent their being blown free of the pierc ing element.

The invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accom panying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus in accordance with this invention, and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a generally rectangularly shaped frame, indicated generally by the numeral 10, comprising a pair of longitudinally extending frame members 12, 14 which, for the sake of light ness and rigidity, have, for example, an angular, usually L-shaped, transverse cross-sectional configuration. Elon- 3,245,585 Patented Apr. 12, 1 966 "ice gated cross-members 16, 18 extend between the upper ends 20a, 20b and lower ends 22a, 22b, respectively, of the frame members 12, 14 and are rigidly secured thereto.

The frame 10, whose perimeter is defined by the members 12, 14 and 16, 18, is supported diagonally with respect to a fiat surface (not shownsuch as the earths surface, for example) by means of a first pair of brace elements 24, 26 which extend from. the ends 20a, 20b and a second pair of brace elements 28, 30, which extend from the ends 22a, 22b, the brace elements 24, 26 and 28, 30 being respectively secured together, as by bolts, for example, at or near to their ends which are remote from the frame 10. The length of the brace elements 24, 26 and 28, 30 is such that, when the brace elements are joined to the frame and to each other, the frame is maintained at an angle of from 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal surface, such as the earth, for example, on which the device rests.

Returning now to the frame 10, a can receiving rack 32 is fixedly secured between the longitudinally extending members 12, 14 and, with the piercing elements 48, supports the cans 96, 98, or 99 on the piercing apparatus. The rack 32 has container positioning means, such as arcuate parts 34, 36 on the upper and lower edge parts of the rack.

A hollow withdrawal tube 42 having a closed end 44 and an open end 46 is disposed near the ends 22a, 22b and is parallel with respect to the cross-member 18 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along which the cans to be opened 96, 98, and 99 are to be disposed in the apparatus of this invention.

A-plurality of hollow can piercing elements 48 in FIG.

2, for example, extend upwardly in the direction of the container supporting rack 32 from the withdrawal tube 42 at predetermined spaced apart intervals and commu nicate with the interior of the withdrawal tube 42, the piercing elements 48 being sealed at their junction with the withdrawal tube 42. Each of the piercing elements 48 has a resilient tubular gasket sealing element 50, 51, or 52 disposed over the outer surface of the piercing element. Except when a can is pierced by an element 48, the length of the gasket sealing element 50, 51 or 52 is such that the element extends from the junction of the piercing element with the withdrawal tube to just beyond the container piercing end of the piercing element.

A slidable pressure bar, indicated generally by the numeral 66, is disposed between the longitudinally extending members 12, 14 between the cross-member 16 and the rack 32 and is slidably coupled thereto by means of end sections 68, 70 which are generally U-shaped in transverse cross section. The open ends of the U fit closely but slidably over the longitudinal extending members 12, 14.

The pressure bar 66 has a fiat face 72 which faces said container piercing elements 48, for example.

Means, such as a leverage arm assembly 74, coupled between the cross-member 16 and the pressure bar 66, is provided for urging said bar 66 towards and retracting it from the container supporting rack 32.

The leverage arm assembly 74 comprises a pair of arms 76, 78 which are spaced apart, rigidly secured to, and extend upwardly from the cross-member 16 A generally Y-shaped member 80 has its bifurcated arms 82, 84 extended downwardly and rotatably coupled near their ends to the arm-s 76, 78 by means of a bolt 86.

A pair of drive arms 88, 90 disposed parallel to the members 12, 14 extend between and are coupled at one end to the bifurcated arms 82, 84, respectively, intermediate of the length of the bifurcated arms by the'bolt 85 and at the other end of the pressure bar 66 by means of the bracket 87 and bolt 89, for example. Movement of the pressure bar 66 is accomplished by advancing or retracting the handle or tail part 92 of the Y-shaped member 80.

In operation, the lever arm 92 is retracted (moved upwardly) to draw the pressure bar 72 as far as possible from the piercing elements 48. A plurality of containers 96, 98, 99 of fumigant or other material to be dispensed are placed on the apparatus 10, their sides resting in the concave sections 34 which are disposed along the length of the rack 32 on the side thereof which faces upwardly (away from the brace elements 28, 30, for example).

The Weight of the cans, and the angle at which the frame is disposed, usually results in the cans 94, 96, 98 resting with the bottom of each can bearing against the upper end of one of the gaskets 50, 51 and 52 which surround each of the piercing elements.

The rack 32 is so disposed, usually, that the can piercing element 48, for example, will pierce the can well below the center of the bottom of the can in order to promote more or less complete emptying of the can.

The fiat face 72 of the pressure bar 66 bears against the top capped part of each can.

As the lever arm 92 is pushed towards the lower end of the apparatus, the pressure plate 66, bearing against the top of the cans, forces the cans downwardly and causes the piercing elements to pierce the cans, the gasket material 50, 51, and 52 bearing against the bottom of the cans to seal the space between the can bottom and the piercing element which has penetrated through the bottom of the individual cans.

The fumigant (or other) material passes through the withdrawal tube 42 and through a hose 100 coupled to the end 46 of the withdrawal tube 42 to utilization means (not shown).

By pushing the lever element 92 as far towards the piercing elements as it will go, the pressure bar is maintained in a position wherein the cans are held in position as they are being emptied. This holding in position occurs because, as the lever 92 is advanced, the ends of the arms 88, 90, being attached to the arms 82, 84 above and forward of the point where the arms 76, 78 are attached to arms 82, 84, are lowered and, in the advanced position, place the arms 88, 90 substantially in a straight line relationship with the points of attachment of the arms 76, 78 to the arms 82, 84.

The face 72 of the pressure bar 66 may have protuberances extending in the direction of the piercing elements 48, 50, 52 which mate with the hollow caps of the cans. These protuberances, shown as knocked out lips 102 in FIG. 2, for example, hold the can cap in the proper position with respect to the face 72 and, avoid any tendency for the can to slip away from the pressure bar 66 as the fumigant material is being dispensed. If less than three cans of material are to be dispensed with this apparatus, a previously emptied can (or two cans) are disposed over the piercing elements which are not to be used on filled cans, and the filled can or cans are then placed above the appropriate piercing elements. The pressure bar is then advanced, opening an unopened can or cans and sealing the previously opened cans to prevent leakage of fumigant from the device except through the utilization hose 100.

While the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing is adapted to open three cans of fluid simultaneously, it is obvious that the invention includes structures where four, five or more cans may be opened and their contents simultaneously dispensed.

Although fumigants, methyl bromide based fumigant compositions, for example, are dispensed in the apparatus of this invention, other fluid materials may be similarly dispensed,

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing fluid from a plurality of sealed cans having round side walls, comprising (a) a rectangular frame including parallel longitudinal members having ends, and a pair of cross members, each of said cross members being secured to corresponding ends of each longitudinal member, the cross members being disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal members, said frame including means for maintaining said longitudinal members at an oblique angle with respect to a surface on which said apparatus rests,

(b) a stationary can supporting rack having two rows of can receiving and positioning elements, each can receiving and positioning element having a plurality of arcuate shaped parts, the arcuate shaped parts of the two receiving and positioning elements being aligned and spaced apart a distance substantially less than the length of the cans from which fluid is to be dispensed, said rack being disposed between and fixedly secured to each of said longitudinal members, said can receiving elements in said rows being so aligned that cans supported by said elements lie parallel to said longitudinal members of said frame,

(0) a fluid withdrawal assembly, said assembly including a fluid withdrawal tube having an open end and a closed end, said tube being rigidly secured to said frame between said rack and one of said cross members, a plurality of can piercing elements coupled to said withdrawal tube, said can piercing elements facing towards said rack and being aligned with the bottom of any cans disposed on said rack, said piercing elements each having a deformable gasket element surrounding it,

(d) means for applying pressure in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of any cans disposed on said rack, said means for applying pressure being disposed between said rack and the end of said frame Which is remote from said withdrawal tube and includes a pressure bar having a surface facing said cans, said bar being slidably coupled to said longitudinal members and mechanical driving means coupled to said pressure bar, and

(e) means for coupling utilization apparatus to the open end of said withdrawal tube.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim '1, wherein said longitudinal members are generally L-shaped in transverse cross-sectional configuration, each longitudinal member having a surface which lies in a common plane with an edge of one longitudinal member facing an edge of another longitudinal member.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said mechanical driving means is a leverage assembly coupled between said pressure bar and the adjacent cross member of said frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 167,251 7/1952 Borland 222 223,667 1/1880 Church 211-60 1,938,126 12/1933 Thompson 2117l 2,082,922 6/1937 Vitek 222-83 2,516,174 7/1950 Baumgard 22283.5 2,792,969 5/ 1957 Anderson 22288 X 2,802,603 8/1957 McCray 222- 3,079,003 8/1963 Hilsinger 2l'171 FOREIGN PATENTS 235,764 6/1925 Great Britain.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FLUID FROM A PLURALITY OF SEALED CANS HAVING ROUND SIDE WALLS, COMPRISING (A) A RECTANGULAR FRAME INCLUDING PARALLEL LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS HAVING ENDS, AND A PAIR OF CROSS MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID CROSS MEMBERS BEING SECURED TO CORRESPONDING ENDS OF EACH LONGITUDINAL MEMBER, THE CROSS MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS, SAID FRAME INCLUDING MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO A SURFACE ON WHICH SAID APPARATUS RESTS, (B) A STATIONARY CAN SUPPORTING RACK HAVING TWO ROWS OF CAN RECEIVING AND POSITIONING ELEMENTS, EACH CAN RECEIVING AND POSITIONING ELEMENT HAVING A PLURALITY OF ARCUATE SHAPED PARTS, THE ARCUATE SHAPED PARTS OF THE TWO RECEIVING AND POSITIONING ELEMENTS BEING ALIGNED AND SPACED APART A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THE CANS FROM WHICH FLUID IS TO BE DISPENSED, SAID RACK BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN AND FIXEDLY SECURED TO EACH OF SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS, SAID CAN RECEIVING ELEMENTS IN SAID ROWS BEING SO ALIGNED THAT CANS SUPPORTED BY SAID ELEMENTS LIE PARALLEL TO SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS OF SAID FRAME, (C) A FLUID WITHDRAWAL ASSEMBLY, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A FLUID WITHDRAWAL TUBE HAVING AN OPEN END AND A CLOSED END, SAID TUBE BEING RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID FRAME BETWEEN SAID RACK AND ONE OF SAID CROSS MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF CAN PIERCING ELEMENTS COUPLED TO SAID WITHDRAWAL TUBE, SAID CAN PIERCING ELEMENTS FACING TOWARDS SAID RACK AND BEING ALIGNED WITH THE BOTTOM OF ANY CANS DISPOSED ON SAID RACK, SAID PIERCING ELEMENTS EACH HAVING A DEFORMABLE GASKET ELEMENT SURROUNDING IT, (D) MEANS FOR APPLYING PRESSURE IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF ANY CAN DISPOSED ON SAID RACK, SAID MEANS FOR APPLYING PRESSURE BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID RACK AND THE END OF SAID FRAME WHICH IS REMOTE FROM SAID WITHDRAWAL TUBE AND INCLUDES A PRESSURE BAR HAVING A SURFACE FACING SAID CANS, SAID BAR BEING SLIDABLY COUPLED TO SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS AND MECHANICAL DRIVING MEANS COUPLED TO SAID PRESSURE BAR, AND (E) MEANS FOR COUPLING UTILIZATION APPARATUS TO THE OPEN END OF SAID WITHDRAWAL TUBE. 